C1918 gold lace cocktail gown with tiered skirt & tails

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English speakers only please.

My Buy it Now prices do not include greedy profits. The price reflects the amount I paid at auction. Simple as that.

Bought at a Kerry Taylor/Southerbys auction, this fabulous lace gown is a wonderful example of the very beginnings of Art Deco, merging with the last fragments of the Edwardian era.

The dress is made entirely of lace and is a gorgeous pure gold colour, very difficult to capture with my camera. The photo's that appear silver are simply the only means of getting the camera to show the details.

The main lace design is large flower heads, made to stand out more because they are outlined in a flat metal thread, presumably hand worked after the completion of the lace.

The gown has 2 tiers to the skirt, each one seperated underneath by gold silk. There is what looks like a drink stain to the silk beween the tiers, this is completely hidden by the lace.

Each tier has an open back which extends into flounced tails, the one at the hem being far longer than the rest of the gown and adding an extra dimention to the back.

The sleeves carry this theme through, being split to the centre and hanging as flounces at either side of the arm.

The back is further enhanced with the hanging silk corsage in vivid colours, which begins with a large silk flower head.

The beautiful gold sash to the waist is very fine and appears to be a silk chiffon.

The interior of the dress has boning to the bodice, so the lady is still uncomfortable, even at this post Edwardian stage!

The inner lining is utterly professional and it is impossible for a non-expert to tell that it has been re-lined from the original. Even Kerry comments on the quality of this renovation work.

CONDITION:

The dress appears to be in wonderful condition, given its fragile make up and age. However, once it was displayed on Posy, I was sad to find three areas of damage to the lace, all on the bodice. I have tried to show these in the photo's. They are not small, and if you wish to wear the gown this Christmas, it would really be worthwhile to find a professional seamstress to either repair the lace, or tie in the broken ends and cover with lace motifs. An expensive and rare gown looking so fresh, will be well worth the extra investment.

I am sure that collectors could undertake this work themselves.

The damage will have been caused by bad storage. It is essential with these fine and complex early 20thC gowns are not hung on clothes hangers! Hangers cause stress to the bodice. Folding causes stress to the creases that form in the fold lines.

Either display it fully supported on a mannequin, or roll it in tissue! Sorry to lecture!

The size of this beauty is a British 8. It fit Posy perfectly and she is chest 32", waist 23" and hip 33".

I am happy to send the Kerry Taylor invoice & description with the gown to the buyer.

Please do take a look at my other items if you have the time!

Payment within 7 days please. Sorry, no cheques. Paypal only from overseas. Paypal or uncrossed postal order from the UK. No collections for small items.